Denver International Airport’s fourth solar power system now producing power

Denver International Airport’s (DIA) fourth solar power system has started operations, meaning the airport’s four systems now collectively generate 10 megawatts of power on sunny days.

Solar IV is on the north side of the airport’s property and is capable of generating up to 2 megawatts of power. On an annual basis the system can produce up to 3.1 million kilowatt-hours of power, the airport said.

“DIA was designed to maximize sustainability, and we have embraced and expanded that legacy over the last 19 years,” said airport CEO Kim Day, in a statement issued Wednesday.

“We continue to invest in initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint and preserve the natural assets of Colorado," Day said. "Most significant is our investment in green initiatives that are financially viable, which assures their perpetuity, even in times of economic downturn.”

The developer for the Solar IV project is Denver-based Oak Leaf Energy Partners.

The $6 million system will be paid for by its owners, Denver Solar IV LLC. DIA will buy the electricity Solar IV produces via a 20-year contract.

The airport said it expects to pay less per kilowatt hour for the solar energy than it currently pays to Xcel Energy Inc. for electricity.

The four solar power systems can generate enough electricity to meet the needs of about 2,595 typical Denver-area homes each year, the airport said. The arrays also have the capacity to offset up to 11,465 metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions each year.

Some of the electricity generated by Solar IV will be used directly at DIA, while excess electricity will be sold to Xcel, the airport said.

The electricity that is used at the airport will power the Denver Fire Department’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Training Academy. Constructed in 2001, this state-of-the-art facility includes an 80-foot aircraft live-fire training simulator and two actual regional aircraft for training in numerous types of emergency scenarios.

The array will provide 100 percent of the facility’s electricity needs, the airport said.

DIA installed its first solar array in 2008. Solar II came online in 2009, followed by Solar III in 2011. The airport now has a total of 42,358 individual solar panels spread across 55 acres of solar fields, making it the second-largest solar array at any U.S. airport, according to the airport’s announcement.